Lockdown III: No club walks
2021 Trips (Covid permitting): Abergavenny May BH (4 new walks + Sugar Loaf), Roybridge (6 walks), Macclesfield/Dark Peak (3 walks). Possibles: Isle of Wight, Ashbourne/White Peak, Gower Peninsula
Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.
This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.
Lockdown III: No club walks
2021 Trips (Covid permitting): Abergavenny May BH (4 new walks + Sugar Loaf), Roybridge (6 walks), Macclesfield/Dark Peak (3 walks). Possibles: Isle of Wight, Ashbourne/White Peak, Gower Peninsula
Jan |
Canary Wharf Light Festival |
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Feb |
Snowdrops: SWC 353 - Knebworth Circular |
Mar |
Wood anemones: Book 1, Walk 15 - Leigh to Tunbridge Wells |
Apr |
Azaleas: 1-18: Sunningdale to Windsor - in Saville Gardens (Windsor): also Isabella Plantation (Richmond Park) |
May |
Bluebells : Late April-early May: 2 - 5ab: Tring to Berkhamsted via Dockey Wood and Flat Isley; 1 - 9: Shiplake to Henley via High Wood and Greys Court; 2 - 13e: Guildford to Boxhill; 1- 47: Ockley to Warnham.......and many more (see our Nature Blog) Early May: for late bluebells plus rhododendrons and azaleas: 1-42: Holmwood to Gomshall via Leith Hill Rhododendron Wood Ashwell at Home - for open gardens - Baldock Circular (SWC 91) - usually about the 2nd Sunday in May (on May 10th in 2020 Cow Parsley: SWC 91- Baldock Circular ; 1-8: Bures to Sudbury |
Jun |
Apple Blossom: 1-28: Chilham to Canterbury; SWC 299 - Teynham to Faversham; 1-36: Borough Green to Sevenoaks Buttercups: 1-8: Bures to Sudbury; SWC 190 - Thame Circular Oxeye daisies: 1-10: Beaconsfield Circular Leigh on Sea folk festival ~ late Jun Poppies: 2-22: Amberley to Arundel |
Jul |
Sandwich folk festival ~ 4 & 5 July Lavender: Late July - Short 23 - Banstead to Woodmansterne; 1-36: Borough Green to Sevenoaks ; also in Letchworth Garden City |
Aug |
Pride Parade in Brighton: ~ 1st Sat in Aug Heather: 1-27: Milford to Haslemere |
Sep | Heather - and berries, fruits and nuts. Start of fungi (mushrooms) in woods |
Oct |
Deer Rut - Bushy Park, Richmond Park Sussex Bonfires - Oct and Nov. Late October - early November: autumn leaf colour: SWC 140 - Wendover Circular via the Lee and Swan Bottom; 1-45: Princes Risborough to Great Missenden; 1-47: Ockley to Warnham |
Nov |
Brokham Bonfire, Lewes Bonfire, many "smaller" ones in Sussex |
Dec | Christmas Fair: 1-7: Garston to St Albans |
Note: |
For a more comprehensive list of SWC walks with flowers, particularly our bluebell walks, please see the Nature Pages / Where to Find Wild Flowers |
Map-led by the SWC resident Xmas Lights Expert (aka Mr. Google-Maps),
a meandering tour through the West End, while trying to avoid some
mega-busy sections and roads.
Note: if more than 6 people turn up, we will split into
groups and walk at safe distance from each other
L=2.15
Standard Walk: 16.8km (10.4 miles)
Shortening the walk: By using the short cut to Chaldon Church at the point indicated in the text 1.7km after the Fox pub (at point [4]), you can cut 4.3km (2.6 miles) off both the main walk and the circular option below.
Alternative circular walk from Coulsdon South: By starting at Coulsdon South, you can make the walk slightly shorter to 14.2km (8.8 miles).
Considering that it starts in the suburbs of London (and within the boundaries of London Transport Travelcard zone six), this walk passes through some remarkably unspoilt countryside. Farthing Down, Kenley Common, Riddlesdown and Cousldon Commons are all ancient grazing lands, lovingly preserved as part of the London Greenbelt, and offering a delightful series of woods and open spaces. It is a fine walk for a brisk winter's day.
Trains: There are options to travel overground from St Pancras, London Bridge and Victoria.
From Victoria, take the 9:51 East Grinstead train (CJ 9:58, E.Croydon 10:09) arriving Riddlesdown 10:17.
From St Pancras, take the 9:26 train (London Bridge 9:41) to East Croydon where you change to connect to the 10.09 to Riddlesdown.
If doing the Coulsdon circular, take the 10:11 St Pancras train (10:26 London Bridge) get to Coulsdon South at 10:50. The 10:15 from Victoria (change E Croydon for 10:41 Three Bridges Train) also gets there at 10:50.
Return trains from Coulsdon South xx:09, xx:39 to St Pancras, xx:20 to Victoria
Both stations are in zone 6 so a travelcard may be the best option
On arrival, set off in small groups (no more than six), allowing gaps between each departure. You will
be asked to provide your email address for contact tracing purposes. Exchange
contact details with those in your group. In the event that you develop COVID
symptoms in the week following the walk, please email/text the people you
walked with and email swc.wanderer@gmail.com Your contact details will
not be shared with anyone.
Lunch: The Fox pub is closed so best to bring a packed lunch and any other refreshments you might need.
L=2.15
Map-led, through Central London's extensive parks. With Kensington Gardens closing at dusk and off limits, we will explore Hyde Park in more detail than usual on this walk, then commence through Green Park and St. James’s Park.